Archive of Culture and Materialism

Raymond Williams, the renowned socialist cultural theorist, was born 100 years ago today in the town of Pandy, near the Welsh-English border. Here, published for the first time, is an extract from his famous ‘When Was Modernism?’ lecture, delivered at the University of Bristol in March 1987, and taken from the forthcoming Culture and Politics: Class, Writing, Socialism – the first Williams book for more than three decades to include new material.

The most pressing debates in left theory, from 50 years of radical publishing.

40% off new Rancière editions, plus our bestselling political theory and philosophy books.

Publishing for our 50th anniversary.

From across 50 years of publishing at Verso: all 40% off until the end of September.

Challenge yourself with new discoveries in our Radical Thinkers series.